Sore Shoulder Has Hunter Off the Mark

Guard Lindsey Hunter is four for his last 16 on three-point attempts, and 13 for his last 38 overall, and apparently there is a reason for it.

Hunter has a sore right (shooting) shoulder, an injury that dates to Nov. 20 against the Clippers, when he fell hard on the shoulder and subsequently missed six free throws in the fourth quarter. Hunter took another blow to his shoulder three nights later, against Golden State, and the soreness has lingered.

Team officials are convinced the injury has limited Hunter’s stroke and is the reason Hunter has averaged six points in his last five games, compared with 11.4 in the nine previous games.

An impact pickup for the Lakers and a luxury-tax castoff for the Milwaukee Bucks, Hunter is under contract through the 2003-04 season. He comes at the relatively cheap rate of $2.7 million this season, $3 million next season and $3.3 million the season after.

Hunter does, however, have an opt-out opportunity in his contract after this season. So far, he loves it in Los Angeles.

“I doubt I’d go,” he said after Thursday’s practice. “I want to stay.”

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The Seattle SuperSonics are a mercurial bunch, as evidenced by their 10-point win against Minnesota on Tuesday, followed by their 24-point loss at Utah on Wednesday. They are 1-5 against teams with losing records.

None of which would have any bearing on the Lakers, because the Lakers didn’t come within seven points of the SuperSonics in four losses last season, and then they won their second consecutive NBA title. They play tonight at Seattle.

Gary Payton said Thursday that the departure of Ruben Patterson, who defended Kobe Bryant, left a hole in their strategy.

“We matched up with them really well last year,” he said. “Ruben did a great job.... Now, it’s a lot different.”

A handful of players, including Payton, Desmond Mason and Rashard Lewis, will have their chances at slowing Bryant, whose 27.4 points a game lead the league.

“I’m not saying I’m the Kobe Stopper,” Mason said, referring to Patterson. “But I’m going to have the opportunity to guard him. So, I’m going to play defense on him like I play defense on anybody else, like Vince Carter, [Jerry] Stackhouse or Allan Houston.”

Bryant said he was less concerned with his game than he was the entire offensive flow.

“Last year, we were somewhat dysfunctional offensively against them,” he said.

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Bryant says he won’t compete in the dunk contest on all-star weekend in his native Philadelphia.

“No chance,” he said.

TONIGHT

at Seattle, 7

Channel 9

Site--KeyArena

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 13-1, SuperSonics 8-9.

Record vs. SuperSonics (2000-01)--0-4.

Update--Gary Payton averages 23.0 points and 9.3 assists and Vin Baker, back from a knee injury, averages 18.9 points. Payton averaged 27.5 points in four games against the Lakers last season. Earl Watson, the rookie point guard from UCLA, has played every game and averages 13.6 minutes and 4.2 points.